Obiang 'wins' E Guinea's controversial poll

Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema won 96,7% in the central African country’s election, according to provisional results on Monday of a poll criticised for falling short of democratic standards.

The figure was published on the government’s website after returns from about a quarter of voting stations. Obiang came to power in the oil-producing nation 30 years ago and is now set for a further seven-year term.

“Provisional results—overwhelming victory for the candidate of the PDGE [ruling party], Obiang Nguema Mbasogo,” the website said of Sunday’s election, using Obiang’s full name.

The provisional result was just short of Obiang’s 2002 score of 97,1% and will come as little surprise to analysts and critics who noted the lack of credible rivals, and the lack of access to the elections for foreign media.

Obiang is seen pursuing his goal of transforming the tiny country of 650 000 into a major energy producer despite mounting human rights concerns.—Reuters